The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-07
NlppnD IN rHn BUD.

Word was received in this citv on
Thursday morning last that q scheme
had been inaugurated TO defeat, II pos
sible, the appointment OF Mr.. +. S.
Warner as Railroad Commissioner, and
delegation of some sixteen Of our
prominent citizens Immediately repaired
to st. Paul to ascertain tie full facts
connected with thu opposition.
Ii seems that Mr.. Holbrook, and with
out question at the very earnest sohcita-
ton of Gen. Baker, went before the Rail-
road Commissioners and took affidavit
that Mr.. Warner had used his official
position to injure the private business of
Holbrook & Lee by asking of the Omaha
officials the cancellation OF the pass the
firm then held for purposes of checking
baggage on trains on that road. This
was about the sum aud substance of the
whole complaint, and the public is fam
iliar with the fact that ut the time of the
occurrence of this matter-about year
ago-there were two hack lines. A
goodly number of very respectable and
prominent citizens felt that the Omaha
road was unjustly discriminating be-
tween the propnetors of the two lines,
and so believing, petitioned the railroad
officials to either cancel the pass of Hol-
brook & Lee, or to issue one to Stout 4
Dolson. Mr.. Warner was asked TO go to
Mr.. Winter, of the Omaha road and lay
the matter before him, which he did.
And when Mr.. Warner did so he dis
tinctly said to the railroad manager that
he came at the request of some of the
citizens Of Mankato, and as citizen Of
that city, and did not wish to be under
stood as in any way coming in an official
capacity. And that is all there is to this
But the channel opened seemed a goot
one to strike at Mr.. Warner and the
blow was made,
Mr.. Warner, however, proved to the
Railroad Commissloners-even to hi
royal highness, the august parsonage o
General Baker-that he violated no par
or particle of the obligation of his officia
position, nor did he go 80 far as even Il
lay himself open to criticism hfore tn,
Board. The testimony that Mr.. Warne
produced to yindicate himself was over
whelming and most convincing.
The delegation which went to st. Pau
did so without the solicitation or knowl
edge of Mr.. Warner and testified in NJ
mistaken terms to his personal characte
and integrity. Here Is the finding O
the Board in the case, reported qnanim
ously:
First-Did E. S. Warner do the &C
charged by Mr.. Holbrook in his aft
davit, in using his influence with tn,
railroad company to take up the permi
of Holhrook 4 Leef Yes, he so admits
Second-Were his motives, as citizel
of Mankato, as shown by the testimony
such as to make him amenable in his OF
fetal position to section 10 of the &C
of March 5, 1885? No He is not, there
fore, guilty of violation of the law.
Third-The commission desires to ex
: press the regret that the secretary of thi
, board should have lnterferred at all il
the matter, or that he should have dom
anything which could have been mis-
Interpreted or misjudged. The case
! dismissed. j. II. BAKER,
President of Board.
: After the action which Gen. Bake
took in this matter he not only lowered
himself in the estimation of many of hi
most ardent admirers, but by the repor
he signed as President of the Railroad
: Commissioners he has convened ever,
one conzant Of his position in the effort
to disgrace Mr.. Warner that he was no
, backed by the sentiment of this or an
other community, and that he had trie,
to make mountain out of a mole-hl
and completely failed.
1t is no secret that this whole thing
Insignificant as it is within itself, wa
brought about through personal malic
and petty jealousy. If those most in
, strumental in the deal can draw an,
consolation from the result they ar
welcome to it, and it is hoped that
may serve them we'll. Mr.. Warner ha
been fully indicated, and his friend
are satisfied.